AIR ACCIDENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1941, Page 3

AIR ACCIDENTS

POINTS FOR INVESTIGATION i — SLjGGFRTED BY CGRGfIFR THE CRASH AT aSHmURST. (By Telegraph—Press Association. > PALMERSTON NORTH. January 7. ; Returning a verdiet that both victims wore killed instantaneously when ; their plane crashed on the house property owned by Mr C M. A. Kcbbell at Ashhurst, the Palmerston North : coroner, Mr A. J. Graham., in conchij ding the inquest into the deaths of Ser- | geant Pilot Rex Brooke-Taylor. aged > 25. and Leading .Aircraftsman Thomas • Arthur Hughes Alexander, aged 28. ■ Air Force personnel from the Ghakea Training Station, commented that sev* ; era] matters, in bds opinion, required : investigation, ■ Mr Graham said it was no; neces-; I sary for him to inquire into the cansles which might have led to the disas-1 j ter, as these would be investigated by ! j an Air Board of Inquiry, cut he did ; [ think that to safeguard the interests! lof those engaged in me hazardous [work, and also in the interests of: , public safety. the following points -. , e- ■ | quired investigation:— 1 TYPES OF AIRCRAFT. (I) The types of machine used in J this particular district. I would like; it to be ascertained if they are in] every way suited to the work they are! called oti to perform. <2) The physical and mental con-! dition of the instructors and pilots.! In these days of stress and strain it ’ is quite possible they are over-j | worked. I would like to be satisfied! I that these responsible officers are al-[ i lowed sufficient leisure time to recup- ; [erate themselves mentally and physi-i j cally from the strain of their work. i <3i Low flying should be looked into.; [ln this district, from my own observa-i i lions, a lot of unnecessarily low fly- i I ing is indulged in. particularly near; I the hospital. Possibly there are regn-i i lotions governing this, but it would al-i : lay public anxiety in this connection if! ! the board made some announcement i i about this. ! Acting-Sergeant V. R. Arnold eon-1

; ducted the inquest for the police. Constable G. E. Chapman stated that ' at 8 a.m. on December 30 he went to I the scene of the accident and found that an Airspeed Oxford had crashed. With Constable Johnson, Ashhurst, he made inquiries from which it was ascertained that at about 7.45 a.m. the plane was cruising round Mr Kebbell’s property, when it was seen to lose height. One wing struck the washhouse at the rear of the house, taking off the roof and the plane then continued on to crash through the upper story of Mr Kebbell’s residence, travelling from the rear to the front and finally on to the metal drive at the front of the house. Portions of the wrecked plane wore strewn over a wide area, and one of the motors finished up in a creek 230 yards from the house. The plane was a total wreck and the pilots were dead and lying in a paddock. It was| obvious that their deaths must have been instantaneous.

In returning his verdict, the coroner said he had received a letter from Mr W. A. Alexander, father of one of the deceased, which the writer requested be read at the inquest. The coroner. | however, said it was his intention to; forward the letter to the Air Board of; Inquiry